No Roach or Da Silva, but Hope and Campbell return for West Indies home Tests against Australia

There was no place for Kemar Roach in West Indies' squad for the upcoming home Test series against Australia, although the hosts have strengthened their batting by bringing back Shai Hope and John Campbell.

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They have also given a maiden call-up to Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson, while the fast-bowling attack has a new face in Johann Layne. Anderson Phillip has been retained.

The third and final Test of the series in Jamaica, which kicks off the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams, will also be a day-night Test. It will be the third day-night Test in the West Indies and the second at Sabina Park.

Roach played West Indies' last Test, in Pakistan, where he picked up two wickets in a 120-run win that squared the series. Only four wickets fell to quick bowlers in that game in Multan. Roach was in decent form in the Test series in Bangladesh prior to that, picking up nine wickets in two games. He has since played in the first-class West Indies Championship for Barbados and, more recently, for Surrey in the County Championship.

West Indies vs Australia schedule

June 25-29 - Ist Test in Barbados

July 3-7 - 2nd Test in Grenada

July 12-16 - 3rd Test in Jamaica (day-night)

"Despite being under consideration, veteran pacer Kemar Roach has not been included and has been duly informed," Cricket West Indies (CWI) said about the 36-year-old in a press statement.

Layne, a 21-year-old fast-bowling allrounder from Barbados, came into the 16-man squad after picking up 63 first-class wickets in 17 matches. Trinidad & Tobago's Phillip last played Test cricket in December 2022, the last of his two appearances, but was in the squad in Pakistan and has a five-wicket haul in the ongoing unofficial Test for West Indies A against South Africa A in Gros Islet.